Boat



May l, 1945. w. w. SCHMITT ET AL BOAT 2 Sheets-Sheet l Filed July 16, 1942 May l, 1945. w. w. SCHMITT ET Al. 2,375,139

BOAT

Filed July 16, 1942 v 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 15 F s .45 f

Patented May l, 1945 UNHTED I STATES EN orties BOAT Walter W. Schmitt and Walter H. Schmitt, Detroit, Mich.

This invention relates to a boat and more particularly to a boat of shallow draft motivated by a detachable power unit.

It is the object of the invention to vproduce a boat of simple but sturdy design, which is diflicult to sink and readily repaired in the event of disaster such as torpedoing.

Another object of the invention is that'of producing a power operated motor` boat wherein the power unit can be saved in the event that the boat iss-destroyed.

This invention also contemplates a boat having a power unit which can be readily transferred from one boat to another, that is, a single power unit will alternately drive a plurality of boats so that a power plant need not be idle while the boat is being loaded and unloaded.

It is also an object of the invention to produce a boat of simple and economical design, which is easily and quickly constructed, and which has a maximum of strength and storage space. The strength of the boat is effected primarily by a herring-bone type of framework.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a top plan view of the boat.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the boat.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary top plan view of the stern of the boat showing the power unit detached.

Fig. 4 is a section along the line 4-4 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a section along the line 5-5 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 6 is a section along the line 6 6 of Fig. 1.

The boat is symmetrical about its longitudinal axis and is of welded sheet steel construction. All of the walls comprise a double thickness of sheet steel. The inner side walls are designated 20 and the outer side walls are designated I8. The boat is provided with two spaced longitudinal partitions 2 and 3 extending from the bow of the boat to the well 28 and a plurality of transverse, double wall partitions each comprising a center vertical partition 5 positioned between partitions 2 and 3 and vertical partitions E one on each side of the partition 5. Vertical partitions 6 extend from the partition 5 to the outer side walls I8 of the boat and are inclined rearwardly of the boat from the partition 5 as shown. The side walls of the boat are reinforced with a plurality of vertically positioned I beams IS. The partitions 5 and 6 are reinforced with a plurality of spaced vertically positioned I beams 1. The longitudinal partitions 2 and 3 are reinforced by a plurality of spaced vertically positioned I beams 8. The I beams in each instance are welded to the inner and outer sheet steel panels. Thus, the herring-bone framework comprises the double walled longitudinal partitions 2 and 3 and the double walled transverse partitions 5, 6 plus the vertical reinforcing I beams,

y all of which are welded into a unitary construction.

The boat is thus divided into a plurality of similar compartments I?. on one side of the boat by partitions 2, 6 and the side wall of the boat. A plurality of similar compartments I4 are formed on the other side of the boat by partitions 3, E and the other side wall of the boat. The boat is also divided into a plurality of compartments I3 by the partitions 5, 2 and 3.

The compartments I-Z, I3 and I4 are each provided with a hatch opening and a hatch cover I5, I6 and I1, respectively. The outer wall I8 of the boat is made of sheet steel welded to the outer vertically extending edges of the herringbone frame members E. The sides are reinforced by intermediate vertically extending I beams I9 welded to the outside sheet steel side I8 of the boat as well as the inside sheet steel panel 20. Each compartment I2, I3 and I4 is formed of a double wall of sheet steel reinforced by vertically extending I beams. Thus, e. g. compartment I2 is enclosed by an inside wall 2li, a rear side wall 2l, an inner side wall 22, and a front side wall 23, all of sheet steel welded to the vertically extending I beam frame members. The floor of the boat is also a double wall comprising an outer sheet steel iioor 24 and an inner sheet steel oor 25. Thus, it will be seen that the boat comprises a plurality of water-tight, separate compartments I2, I3 and I4, any one or more of which can be perforated or destroyed and yet the boat will remain afloat. In case of damage to one of the compartments it can be readily and easily replaced.

The power unit for the main or driven boat above described, and which will be generally designated 26, comprises a smaller boat 21, which is arranged to fit in the boat Well 28 provided in the stern of the main boat 26. The boat 21 is detachably secured in the boat well 28 and to the mainr boat 26 by the ropes 29 and brackets 30 which can be readily disconnected or the ropes 29 can be cut so that the auxiliary or power boat 21 can be detached from the main boat 26 as illustrated in Fig. 3. The auxiliary boat 21 is preferably powered by one of more internal combustion engines of the Diesel type and is provided with a propeller 3l and rudder 32 for steering the same. The power unit is preferably controlled within the auxiliary boat 21 but can also be provided with well-known remote controls so that the operation of the power unit or auxiliary `unit 21 .is that one power unit 21 can be used to drive two or more main boats 26. For example, while one main boat 26 is being loaded its power unit can be detached and used to driveanother loaded boat along a given water route.

boat well. As soon as the boat 21 comes to rest on the bottom 40 of the well, the power unit 21 is secured in place by the ropes 29. Buiers of any suitable type, either pneumatic or hydraulic,

, will be located between the sides of the boat well 28 land the auxiliary boat 21 to prevent marring or damaging of the auxiliary boat 21 by the walls of the boat well.

It will be noted that each of the vertical partitions 2 and 3 cooperate with the bottom 24, 25 of the main boat and the deck to form a rigid I V construction. The transverse partitions 5, E also Thus, the power unit or auxiliary driving boat can be utilized continuously while the main boats it drives are being loaded and unloaded.

The living quarters for the crew will be built into auxiliary boat 21. This auxiliaryboat A21 provides a ready means of escape for the crew in case the main boat is torpedoed.

The boat well 2B is provided with a bottom oor 40. The bottom 40 of the boat Well 28 is formed by extending the double steel oor 24, 25 of the boat across the well. The bottomv 40 of the boat well will be beneath the surface of the water in which the main boat is oated. Therefore, the auxiliary boat 21 will be floated into the boat well above the bottom 4U and then given suflicient ballast, preferably a ballast of water, and preferably just sufficient to cause the auxiliary boatI 21 to rest on the bottom 40 of the cooperate with the bottom 24, 25 and the deck of the main boat to form a rigid I construction.

The bottom ofthe boat between the outer and inner sheet steel doors 24 and 25 is reinforced v by I beams 4l (Fig. 4) which are welded to the floors 24 and 25 and also at their ends to the y upright I beams I9. Y

The bottom of the boat well is provided with a slot 42 to accommodate the propeller shaft.

We claim:

In combination, a driven boat having a boat well in the stern of the same, said boat well extending forwardly along the longitudinal axis and from the rear of said driven boat and having a floor therein, and an auxiliary power operated boat substantially the same length as said well and positioned in said well upon said floor and detachably secured to the main boat for driving the same and protected by the sides of said well.

WALTER W. SCHMITT. WALTER. H. SCHMITT. 

